(03/01/2002) - WASHINGTON – Oil drilling in the Kenai
National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska has resulted in more than 350 spills,
explosions and fires and is linked with abnormally high numbers of deformed wood
frogs, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service studies released today by
Audubon and Defenders of Wildlife. The groups’ report Toxic Tundra details a
contaminants study and a frog study, which was obtained through the Freedom of
Information Act. These studies point to the need for further study of damage
caused by oil production in Kenai and other National Wildlife Refuges, as well
as the importance of keeping industrial development out of the pristine Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.

"In spite of all the industry’s
promises, oil drilling in Kenai and other national wildlife refuges has left
behind a disgraceful legacy of contamination, toxic chemical spills, and lasting
damage to wildlife and wildlife habitat," said Robert Dewey, vice president for
government relations at Defenders of Wildlife. "With such a sorry record, does
anyone honestly believe the oil companies’ fatuous claims that they’ll do better
next time, if we just throw open the doors to the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge?"

"Oil drilling in a national wildlife
refuge is simply an awful idea, " said Lois Schiffer, Audubon's senior vice president for public policy.
"There can be no question, in
light of these studies, that oil drilling would be a disaster for the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge." Copies of these studies are available by request.

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Founded in 1905 and supported by 600,000
members in more than 500 chapters throughout the Americas, the National Audubon
Society conserves and restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other
wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the Earth's
biological diversity.

Defenders of Wildlife is a leading
nonprofit environmental advocacy organization with more than 500,000 members and
supporters, especially recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive
advocates for endangered wildlife, its habitat and biodiversity. Defenders uses
education, litigation, research and innovation to advance its mission over the
opposition of special interests. Visit our Web site at www.defenders.org.

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